Jerome Williams roughed up by Cardinals in final start of spring

Jerome Williams allowed six runs on nine hits in four innings on Sunday. (Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle)

JUPITER, Fla. — Pitchers who rely on contact are going to have days where the balls in play somehow seem to always go where the fielders aren’t. That includes over the fence.

In his final start of spring training — and the Astros’ third-to-last game before leaving Florida — righthander Jerome Williams had a rough time Sunday in a 6-3 road loss to the Cardinals.

None of Dexter Fowler, Jose Altuve or Jason Castro were brought on the two-hour road trip, and it showed: the Astros managed just three hits. On the flipside, shortstop Jonathan Villar made a pair of excellent defensive plays that showed off his range, including a diving catch along the left field line.

When asked, manager Bo Porter said that Williams had definitely made the team. But that was never really a concern — the Astros signed Williams to a major league deal this winter as a free agent.

The question is whether Williams, who prefers to start, will make the rotation. He allowed six runs in four innings, including three home runs. Matt Adams, who homered against the Astros for a second consecutive day, Matt Holliday and Jhonny Peralta all went deep.

“I just got to work on throwing the ball not to bats,” Williams said. “It was one of those days where — the ball’s just finding the bats, and the balls just finding the holes. I left like three or four pitches up and they took advantage of it. It’s kind of bad that it’s happening now at the end of spring. Hopefully I can just try and turn it around before the season starts.”

Said Porter: “When you have a strike thrower like a Jerome Williams, sometimes you got to take it upon yourself to go against your own scouting report a little bit and take advantage of their aggressiveness.”

The outing couldn’t have helped Williams’ chances of starting, although Porter will wait to make any announcement.

Williams might be headed to a swingman or long-relief role now, but surely will get some starts during the season at some point. As he has all spring, the 32-year-old said he can perform in any role the Astros want him to.

“I tell you guys that every time: it doesn’t matter to me,” Williams said. “I can do it (relieving). I know I can do it. I’ve done it for three years. Obviously, I do want to start. Like I said, I’m going to keep on saying it: as long as I go out and contribute any way possible to help the team win, I’m going to do it.”

Williams, Lucas Harrell (who’s out of options), Dallas Keuchel and Brad Peacock are competing for the final two rotation spots. One scenario would have at least three of them make the team: two as a starter, one as a reliever, with perhaps one heading to Class AAA to be stretched out as a starter in case there’s need on the big league club. And there will be need.

Astros catcher Jason Castro, who caught an illness going around the clubhouse, remains slated to return to the lineup on Monday, when the Astros are on the road for a 5:05 p.m. CT contest against the Braves. Lefty Dallas Keuchel has a chance to continue to make a case he should be in the rotation.

… Astros designated hitter Chris Carter has been scuffling. On an off-day Saturday, he worked with Astros hitting coach John Mallee on staying on keeping his swing on the same plane. Back in the lineup Sunday, Carter went 0-for-3.